Electric vaporizer for internal-combustion engines.



H. HERTZBERG dz A. A. LOW.

ELECTRIC VAPORIZER FOB. INTERNAL OOMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLIGATION FILED FEB, 11. 1907.

Patented J an. 19, 1909.

3 BHEBTSHHEET 1.

A WORN E Y8 H. HERTZBERG & A. A. LOW. ELECTRIC VAPORIZER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIUATIUN FILED FEBv 11 N07 Patented Jan. 19, 1909 3 SHBETSSEEET 2 Mm s 0 v, T E Nd N EJL u V am W 6T W/TNESSES H. HERTZBERG (it A A. LOW.

ELECTRIC VAPORIZER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES, APPLIUATION FILED rm. 1) 19m.

909,896. Patented Jan. 19. 1909,

3 SHEBTS-BHEET 3.

, To all whom it may concemi and Armor A. Low, citizens of the United is to be understood as illustrative only, and

of the invention wherein the electrically 'tively, have invented certain new and useful of electrically heated vaporizer adapted for UNITED STATES PATENT oFFroE.

HARRY HERTZBERG, OF NEW YORK, AND ABBOT AUGUSTUS LOW, OF HORSESHOE, lflEW YORK; SAID HERTZBERG ASSIGNOR '10 SAID LOW.

nnnormc vhronrznn ron ru'rnnnnn-oomsosrrou nnemns.

Speciflcetion of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed February, 1907. Serial No. 856,792.

Be it known that we, Him" HERTZBERG States, residing at the cit of New York, borough of Brooklyn, an State of New York, and Horseshoe, in the county of St. Lawrence, in the State of New York, respec- Elect'ric Vaporizers for InternuLCombustion of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a vaporizer articularly adapted for use in internal com ustion enines, the object in view bei to quickly 'eat the surface against whieh ihe petroleum or other liquid combustible is sprayed in starting the engine. A sufficient temperature is produced in a very brief time to vaporize the li uidfuel, the resultin 'vapor bein then mixe with air so as to produce the exp osive charge.

The electrical device for heating the va orizer is simple in construction, econonnca to manufacture and install, efticient in operation, and, also,particularl compact, it occupying very little 5 ace in t e mixing chamber or combustion cy mder of the engine.

. In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention,but the construction shown therein not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, with arts in elevation, showing a portion of an internal combustion engine nipped with a vaporizer adapted to be heatgd initially b anelectric current as contem lated by this invention. Fig. 2 is o. vertical section, partly nn elevation, illustrating anothereulbodiment of the invention wherein a somewhat different form of electricall heated vaporizer is employed, together-wit means for heating the spray nozzle through which the combustible liquid is supplied to the engine. Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of the vaporizer shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical section, artly an elevation i1 ustrating another embo iment heated vaporizer is arranged inthe combustron or piston-{chamber of the engine. Flg. 5 1s a vertlcal section, in detail, of another form use internally of the cylinder -said vaporizer being constructed for the c1rculatiou of'a.

gme 1s in operation. Fig. 6 is a detail View, partly in section and partly an elevation, showrng'our electrically heated vaporizer constructed to form a part of the intake valve of a. combustion engine. Fi 7 is a detail view illustrating a tubular jacketed, electrically-heated vaporizer-uduptedfor use in substantially the same position as the vaporizer of Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line8-8 of F i 7 showing the outer tube of a vaporizer bro en away for illustra ting theelectncal resistance. Fi s. 9 and 10 are views in side elevation an edge elevation, res )ectively, illustrating in detail one form 0% the new. vs. ori'zer. Fl 5. 11 and 12 are views in side e ovation ant ed e elevation res ae'ctively of a multi le r: l i P unit vaporizer, each unit of w llCll is heated electrically.-

In Fig. 1 of the drawings we have shown one type of combustion engine where in we may employ our vaporizer adapted to be heated imlia 1y by an electric current for the purpose of converting combustible liquid into vapor suilicicnt to start the enginc into operation. iaiiper which the arts of the eugme become heated to $1101 an extent as to vaporize the combustible liquid and thereby insure the continued operation of said engine.

A desimmtes a combustion chamber or piston ey 'nder, a part of the piston being indicated at 'a. Onecnd of the cylinder is closed by a head 13 inwhich is provided an intake passage b adopted to be closed by an intake valve C. The valve is provided 'with a stem 0 having a heard 0' against which acts a 5 )ring C that is adapter to hold the valve (J normally on its seat 5 on the cylinder head.

A hood D is secured to the cylinder A and the head 13 in any usual or preferred way, and this hood is constructed to produce a mixing chamber (1 and a circulating chemread 13* bur cl the latter being next to the and adapted to permit the circulation-therethrough of a cooling medium, such as water The hood D is shown us having an air inlet 6 across which operates any suitable form of valve or regulator E adapted tocontrol'the volume of atmospheric air to be sup by the valve or regulator being adapted to v plied p to the mixing chamber l,'the an so admitted mix with a combustible liquid, or a vapor produced by. such liquid coming in contact with a vapmizenas will hereinafter ap ear.

Any suitable means may be employe' for supplying a combustible liquid'to the chainor d, and suchliquid may be of an able or preferred character,; but 111 the engine shown by the drawing we contemplate the employment of kerosene which is vaporized to combine with air and thereby produce an explosive mixture which leadmitted to the cylinder A.

A jet: nozzle F 'is coupled or attached in a suitable way to the hood D, and as shown this nozzle is provided with a contracted orifice farrangcd to throw a jet or combustible liquid across the chamber a! and throu 'h a diaphragm G. Said diaphragm may Je of any suitable nature, but as shown it consis'ts of apiece of metallic gauze arranged vertically within the chamber (1 and in the path of the jet of liquid from the nozzle F, whereby the diaphragm is adapted to break up the jet of liquid and convert the same into a fine spray, such liquid spray striltin against or being brought into contact wit the-vapon'zcr of. this invention when the engine is started. that the jet of combustible liquid is forced under pressure, and at intervals, into the chamber cl by a suitablo'mechanical appli once, such as a pump, whereby the liquid is projected throu h the gauze d aphragm and 15 caused to slim to the vaporizer.

One form ofvaporizerfis shown at II in,

Fig. 1 as being located in the air inlet passage 0 and quite close to the diaphragm G, said vawrizer H being in the path of the jet of iquid adapted to be supplied by the nozzle F. This vaporizer consists of a plurality of masses of metal It It, an electrical resistance)! and electrical insulating layers it. The vaporizer shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings is circular or disk shape, whereas the vaporizer shown in Fi e. 9 and 10 is square, but it will be our erstood that the shape of the vaporizer is unimportant. "heelectrical resistance It may, and preferably docs, consist of a fine metallic wire or ribbon which is preferably wound or coiled on the core it, said resistance being wound non-imluctivcly on said The layers 11. of insulating material are preferably thin pieces of mica which are disposed in direct contact with the masses of metal It h. The resistance It and its core Ir" are placed between the insulating layers It", and the parts are clamped or held firmly together so that the resistance will be in direct contact with the insulating layers, and said layers will in turn be in direct contact with the urietallic menses. The members 7: h of the va orizcr are preferably composed of copper p ates, \VlllCl'l metal we have found will heat up readily when a carsuit It should be understood,

appropriate way, but: as shown by Fig. l we on Jpor} the entire vaporizerwithin the hood y a metallic sleeve I which is secured in the hood by a nut i. The vaporize; H is titted on this tube, and it is clamped thereto by the nuts 2". The tube I provides for the passage therethrough of the electric couductors j y which are covered by suitable insulating material j, the latter being adapted To resist the action of the heat, and also insulate the conductors from metallic contact with the tube I. The conductors y are attached to the respective ends of the resistance -coil h, one of said (,OlldllutOl'r serving as the feed to said resistance coil and the other operating as the return counection for said coil. l t is to be u IILlOlHlUQtl that an electric current from any suitable or appropriate source of supply may be supplied to the conductorsj and the resistance 1.. 4 i

'The piston cylinder A is shown as being etpiipped with an ignitcr K, the latter being 0 any suitable or approved construction.

When the engine is started the several parts thereof are iuu cold state, and it is necessary to heat up one or more of said parts for the )urpose of vaporizing the combustible liquit. Ordinarily combustion engines are heated by exposing a quantity of cm'nlmstiblc liquid and applying a lighted match or torch thereto, the flame from the liquid serving, to heat up the parts suliiciently to.cfi'ect the vaporization of the litpiid which is subsequently admitted in the cy indcr of the engine. This operation of heating; up one or more of the parts necc.-.:- surily consumes a certain amount of time. and it is the purpose of our invention to overcome this objection and to quickly heat up the vaporizing surface by the action of an elect ric current when the engine is started in operation.

An engine equipped. with our vaporizer ma he brought into service without apple cia ale -loss of time by simply admitting; a current of electriccne 'gy to the resistance 11 the heat developed in which is at. onceabsorbcd by the metallic masses 1!. it. The

engine is cranked or otheru'ise started in operation, ruin] a jet of cou'ilm'stible vapor is forced through the nozzle F against and through the dlapliragn'rG, sons to produce a spray which is brought in mutactlwith one or both members lr/i' of the vaporizer, whereby the liquid spray is at once converted into a vapor. Sinuiltaneously with the operation of converting the spray into a vapor,

: In Fig 9 andlO-of the drawings we have air is. edul tted' y the v l e r g to t9 the chernber d and the piston a is moved l inwardly so s to create a suction in the chamber A su cient to open the intake valve O. The vapor resulting from the conversion of the combustible 1i uid is combined with air which is edmitt'e by the valve E, thus producing the combustible vapor which is supplied to the cylinder A when the valve 10 C is opened and on the next up stroke of this piston tie cbmbustible vapor or charge,

isc mpressed by said piston and is ex loded by he portion of the igniter K, where by the piston is forced outwardly by the pressure resulting from the explosion of the exploded charge. It is necessary only tosupply the combustible liquid'to the vaporizer Him 3- or 4 times when starting the engine, and said engine is heated by the explo ed charge so 2o that the combustible liquid is converted into vapor within the chamber (1 of the hood, which vapor is mixed with air to reduce the combustible char e adapted to e supplied to the piston cy inder A as the engine continues in operation.

The embodlment of the invention shown by Fi 2. is quite similar to that heretofore descri ed in 'cpnnection"with Fig. 1, but under similar circumstances it is advisable ac to initially heat the combustible liquid before or at the time of. its admission to the mixing chamber cl; 'For this purpose we prefer to provide means for electrically heat- .ing the jet nozzle F, and in Fig. 2 said nozzle isshown its having a. resistdnce coil F which is included in on electric circuit 7''. The re sistcnee coil F develops heat when on electriccurrent is passed therethrough, and this beet -is communicuteddir'ectly to the 9 nozzle .F, whereby li uid passing through snid nozzle nbsorbs the} eel; thereof.

represented another form of the electrically heated vaporizer which is indicated in its. 45, entirety by H". This'lieatcrmnsists ofcompl'einentalmetallic plates k h adapted to be fastened together byJrivetsf screws or the i i-like h. Theresista-nce coilh is wound on corol a. consisting of a layer of mice as indi-' outed by dotted use in Fig. 9. In Figs 1, 'cndli the resistance is represented as n fine'metalli'c wire, but in Figs. 9 and 10 the resistance h is a fiat metallic ribbon. The resistance and its core are placed between the metallic masses h-h; and .they are insulated electrically therefrom by layers h of mice.

' "ltwv' ill'lie understood that. the mica insulating layers, theresistance ribbon, and the core on which said ribbon is'coiled are clamped 6Q firmly together between the meta'llicmusses. The layers In. insulate the resistance from direct metallic contact with said masses 1th.. cnd said insulating layers are composed of very thin pieces of mica which permits the heat of the resistance to pass practically unobstructed to the metallic classes, the latter absorbing the beat as fast as it is developed in said coil. In saidFigs. 9 and 10 the electrically heated vaporizer is directly in the path of -a jet of combustible liquid adapted to be sup lied bythe nozzle F against one side or aoe ofthe vaporizer.

Fige. 11 and 19 represent another embodimeut of the vaporizer consistin of a plurality of electrically heated mem cis or units ll which. are arranged in parallel relation and awe adopted to he sup )llcd indepcudcutly of each other with on electric current. Each unit H consists,- of one or more metallic umsses. and. the resistance. h? clmuped between, and insulated electrically from said metallic masses. The circuit-wire 1' bush plurality of switches 7' adapted to who contact individually with the resistances of-thc units H the latter having u common return connection 7'. It will be seen that the switches i may be individuolly adjusted to include any one or more of the units H in the electric circuit for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the capacity of the vaporizer. In the construction shown by Figs. 1 2, 9 and 1D the jet nozzle F is arranged to direct the liquid against one side of the vaporizer, but owin' to the parallel arrangement of the nuts in the construction of Figs. 11 Ill. 12, it is desirable to arrange the jet nozzleFi to direct the combustible liquid against the edge port-ions of the-unit s H, whereby tbesprny of combustible liquid is adopted to pass between said units and to be converted int 0 vapor by theheat thereof. i

-The electric vuporrzers heretofore described and shown on Fi e. 1, 2, 3,.and 9 to' '12, inclusive are intended to be 'placed in the mixing chamber d of the engine, butthis particular location of the vaporizer is not important for the reason that sold vaporizer may be employed internally of'tlie combustion or piston cylinder A. In Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive, of the drawings we have shown vatrious embodiments of our vaporizer adopted for internal use in the combustion chamber, and we will now proceed" to describe the various types of \"RPOl'lZEF-S shown in said& figures of the drawings.

The vaporizer H of Fig. 4 is arru-nged in the path of a mixture of air and combustible liquid, the liquid being forced into flier-humher (1 and being held in suspension mechanically iuthe air. The vaporizer ll is comics-ed or metallic plot-cs or musses adapted in clump between thclnsclvcs an electrical resistance which is insulated from metallic contact with the said plates or masses in the manner heretofore described. Any suitable menus may be employed for supp'ortingsaid vaporizer l-[ in the path of the inflow-lug charge, but as shown the vaporizer is suspcndedbelow the intake valve C byhangers HI. the latter being attached in a suitable way to the head ll of'the cylinder. The conductonj for uupplying and returning the currentmay be led through insulating ushin} i m and m the latter being secured to lhe rylindcr head B and to the hood D.

The operation of the construction shown by Fig. 4 in in the main, similar to that; described in connection with Fig. 1. The air in admitted by the valve or re ulutor l) and a romhu lihle liquid is supplied by the'nozzle into a vapor or gas, the latter being 00111:

put-awed on the u stroke of the. engine piston 1! so an Lobe explode-d by the ignitor K.

Fig. :i represnnts another Form of vaporizer which is electrically heated at the beginning of the operation, and which isconstruch ed for the circulation of n cooling'modiuui therethrough when the engine is heated up and continued in operation. The vaporizer H ia rcprcsented as a ring or annulus which is suspended from or attached to the cylinder head P1 in any suitable .Way, saidannular vaporizer bcit in the path of the (barge admitted b) the intake v'alre t. The unnular u )orizer is provided in its lower Jortinu wit: ulcerss n which is adapted to rereii u the electric heating appliance hereto fiire de 'scribed as connistii'igoi resistunre wire or ribbon. which insulated from metallic contact with the body or mass of metal by interposed layers of mica. aaid resistance 'irn being indicated by dotted lines-in Fig. 3 and adapted to be supplied with an electric cnr- .rent through the conductors The annular vaporizer is, furthermore. provided withit ,space or rlnnuber 0 which is adapted to cominunicute by passages 0' in the cylinder head it for the purpose of establishin a ronununication between the water circu ating cluuuher (1. and the chamber o of said ,vnporizer, whereby the water or other cooling inedituu may be caused to oirculutcthrough theiapu riner H when thelen ine is'in nurviec.

The operation of the vaporizer, ehown in Fig. 5, is similar to thatdescribed in connection to the construction of Flgfil. when the vulve'tl is owned, the mixture of air and combustible iquid flows into the men 2-. ace of-the vaporizer, the inclined sun ace 0% said valve G operating to direct the aforesaid mixture into contact with the inner surface of said vaporizer H". It should be understood that'the vaporizer H" is heated by an electric. current. before the engine 15 brought, into contact \vi started, so that the mixture of air and liiuid will'he converted into vapor when supp ted to the engine cylinder, but after the engine in once in operation the current is cut off from the vaporizer, and the water circulnt engine operating as heretofore described in connectionwith Fig. 4;. The valve C is provided with a nieu'iber p and with a hollow valve stem 72'. The member me be made in one piece with the ralro (3 ant it; constitutes one of the metallic masses of our vaporizer; The other mass or meinl'ier p? of the vaporizer is cla m )cd by suitable means to the member 1!, and between said members 1 p is confined the electrical resistance 71" which is adapted to be supplied with an electric current through the conductors p which are led or carried through the hollow valve stem p. The electric current is supplied to the resistance 1) before starting the engine for the purpose of heatin up the members pp, and when the vaive C is opened the mixture of air and liquid is th the vaporizer so as to convert the liquid into the combiisti ble vapor.

Anotherform of electrically heated and water cooled vaporizer is shownin Figs. 7 and S of the drawing, wherein weem loy concentric tubes .9. with an electrica resistance 2, confine between said concentric tubes. 1 refer-ably, the tubes are bent into the annular form shownin Fig. 8, and the inner tube (1 is provided with the vertical loge r, whereby said legs may extend through the cylinder head 13, and connected with a circulating pipe R, thelatter being cquippedwvith a suitable controlling valve r'-. The resistance q iscoiled or wound around the inner tube a la 'er of insulatin r material a being disposed between said in :e r] and the resistance, as shown by the drawings. The tube q incloses the resist and said resistance is insulated elect-rich from the tube g' by an'other layer of mica a. In ractice we prefer toemplov two copper to es, one-life: which: is of smaller-diameter thnngthe other,

ance and the tube {1, r

. and while the-tubes are injstraight'eondinm'ngwe apply the insulating layers to the smaller tube. The resistance WlIB or do hon 'isnmv coiled on the insulating layer s, and then the other insulating layer s." is wrapped around the'resistance, miter which the prepared inner tube, thersistance and the msidating la eraare 'inclosed within the outer tube g, nn finally tbe'a-asembled parts are bent to the annular or ring like form shown in the drawings. The ends of the inner tube are bent to form the hollow legs a 1 and tie vaporizer is now in condition for lnstallation in the engine cylinder. Said vaporizer may be sulpported or suspended on the head B by t e hangers t or their equivalents, and said vaporizer is below the intake valve 0 so as to be in the path of the infiowing harge of air and li uid. .When the engine is started the electric current is admitted to the resistance for the purpose of heatin the tubes 9 9 so that. on the ad mission 0 the mixture to the engine cylinder the combustible liquid of said mixture is converted into'a vapor by contact with the vaporizer. After the engine is started the current is cut oil from the resistance 9 and the vaporizer becomes heated'by the ignition of the explosive charges admitted to the engine cylmd er. At this time the valve 0- may be opened and a cooling medium, such as water, may be caused ;to circulate thron -h the inner tube q of the vaporizer, where )j' the latter is cooled and kept from deteriorating by the action of the heat thereof.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines comprising a chamber, a partition composedof perforated material in said chamber, means for supplying a liquid combustible to said chamber on one side of.

the partition therein, an electrically heated va orizing element in the chamber on the otliier side of said partition, and means for admitting air to the chamber.

2. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines com rising a chamber, means for spraying a iquid combustible therein, an electricall heated vaporizing element positioned'in the chamber, and means for breakingl up :the spray, said means being lnterme late said vaporizing element and the liquid combustible spraying means.

3. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines comprism a chamber provided with an air inlet, an e eotricallyheated vaporiz- ,ing element positioned in the. chamber in roximit to the air inlet thereto, means or supp yin a liquid combustible to said chamber, and a perforatedpartition positioned in the chamber intermediate the va )0- vided wit rizing element and said liquid combusti'le supplX means.

-4.- starting vaporizer for internal corn bustion en ines comprising a chamber pro- E an air inlet, an electricallyheated vaporizing element positioned in said chamber, means for supp 1 combustible adapt names to this specification in the ying a liquid combustible to said chamber, a foraminous partition intermediate the vaporizing element and the li uid combustible supply means, and an out et for the resulting gaseous mixture of vipor and air, said outlet being in communication with the chamber at one side of the foraminous partition therein.

5. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines comprising a chamber provided with an air inlet, means for spraying a liquid combustible into said chamber, a valved outlet for a combustible mixture, said outlet being in communication :with said chamber, an electrically heated starting vaporizing member Within said chamber, and a part1- tion ,of foraminous material positioned in the chamber intermediate the air inlet and the outlet for the gaseous mixture, said partition being in thtdpath of a jet of liquid to be supplied to the chamber.

(5. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines comprising a chamber provided with an air inlet, means for spraying a liquid combustible into said chamber, and a starting vaporizing member positioned in the chamber and presentin a surface for con- (act with a liquid combustible, said vapo rizing member commsing metallic plates forming a mass of teat-a orbing metal, a hollow support for said lates, an insulated electrical resistance held between, and in contact with, said plates, and conductors extending through said hollow su port'to a point externally of the metallic p ates and connected to the aforesaid electrical resistance.

7. A vaporizer for internal combustion cn ines comprising a chambered casin provided with an air inlet, means for supplying a liquid combustible to said chamber, a perforated )artition positioned in the chamber intermc iate the air -inlct and said liquid combustible supply means, an outlet for a combustible mixture, said outlet communieating with said chamber, and an electrically heated starting vaporizer member having a mass of heat-absorbing metal ex )OSBd contact with said liquid combustib e.

In testimony whcreofvfeliavc signed our presence of two subscribing witnesses.

" HARRY HERTZBEBG.

ABBOT. AUGUSTUS LOW.

Witnesses! I H. I. BEMronn,

Geo. WELLING Gmmims. 

